Menzies calls for Lords revamp

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

He called for the Government to strengthen the elections watchdog, the Electoral Commission, and make the House of Lords wholly or predominantly elected.

His comments came after a senior frontbencher in his own party said it was "completely ridiculous" no charges were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the Government had "effectively been selling peerages and selling knighthoods".

Sir Menzies told BBC News24: "I think what we need now is a wholesale review of the law in relation to this matter.

"We need to have proper regulation that's properly enforced by a revamped, strengthened Electoral Commission and of course right at the heart of this is to have reform of the House of Lords so that it's either wholly, or mainly an elected chamber.

Mr Huhne told ITV1's The Sunday Programme he was surprised by the outcome of the police inquiry.

He said there was a "very strong" link between donations to Labour and honours.

"Every single person who gave more than a million pounds to the Labour Party since Tony Blair became leader has ended up either with a knighthood or with a peerage," he said.

"That is such a strong fact that for anybody to turn around and say 'We're not going to press charges' is frankly ridiculous."